Spending Time With God
Glenn W. Worthington
Copyright 2012 by Glenn W. Worthington
Smashwords Edition
FINDING QUIET TIME TO SPEND WITH THE LORD
Communication is a vitally important ingredient in keeping any love relationship alive. I've found that if I don't spend time everyday talking with my wife, I won't know what she has been doing, thinking, or feeling. Because I love her I want to know what is on her heart. And when I share my thoughts and feelings with my wife, I sense a genuine bonding with her.
We need to apply this principle to our love relationship with God. We should set aside a time everyday to meet with the Lord. Through speaking to Him in prayer, and listening to Him, we can enjoy an honest, open, two-way communication that will cause a glorious bonding of our spirits.
You probably agree that you need to spend time with the Lord, but still you may be thinking, "I am just so busy. I don't see how I can find the time." But please consider this thought with me for a moment. When a single person finds someone that they really fall in love with, they are always able to find time, or make the time, to spend with that person. And if you are really in love with the Lord, you will make time to spend with Him.
Now, if you are a morning person, just set your alarm to go off earlier than usual and spend that time with the Lord everyday. When I was in college, I disciplined myself to do just that. I got up every morning and purposely took my Bible to a certain spot to meet with the Lord before breakfast.
If anyone would have seen me, they might have thought, "He sure spends a lot of time in prayer". But the truth of the matter was many mornings I just plain fell asleep. Even though I had determined it was good to start off each day with the Lord, I just was not a morning person. So, I needed to pick a different time of day to meet with the Lord.
Nighttime is best for some people. Just before going to sleep you can read the Bible and pray, thanking God specifically for each way in which He helped you that day. This worked better for me than an early morning appointment with the Lord. But I found that after a full day of classes, working a part-time job, and doing homework until late at night I would sometimes say, "It's so late I'd better get in bed or I won't be able to get up in the morning." Sometimes I was very determined to meet with the Lord in spite of the circumstances. But I would frequently fall asleep during these nighttime sessions.
At those times I felt like the disciples must have in the Garden of Gethsemane. My spirit was willing but my flesh was weak. I was embarrassed to wake up and feel as though the Lord were saying as He did in Mark 14:37 (NIV), "Are you asleep? Could you not watch with me for one hour?"
Have you ever been in that position? You can really feel ashamed when it happens, like you have disappointed a close friend.
Peter was one of those sleepy disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane that night. Do you know what time worked out best for him? In Acts 10:9 it tells us, "At noon...Peter went up on the roof to pray." That is what works best for me. I don’t mean the roof. I mean the noon part. At the job where I now work I get an hour-long lunch break. I get alone with God, eat, read the Bible, and pray. For me it is the best time to meet with the Lord. I am not sleepy from just waking, and I'm not exhausted from a full day of activity.
Let me reassure you that you can have time for both God and your daily duties. If you will put God first, He will give you time for all of the other things in life, too. As Jesus promised in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."
Now, I know Jesus was referring to material possessions here, but I am confident that the principle of putting God first applies to our time as well.
Whether you choose to meet with God the first thing in the morning, at noon, or at night, determine to spend time with Him every day. And I am talking about meeting with the Lord seven days a week. Don't think that since you sit in church on Sunday and hear about God that you don't need to meet with Him privately. We should not settle for a second-hand relationship ship with the Lord. We are privileged to be granted an audience with the King of Kings everyday and should look forward to spending time with Him.
Our motivation to meet with the Lord should be that of love, not duty or obligation. Would you want your spouse or close friend to talk with you because they felt they had to or, rather, because they loved spending time with you? The Bible says, "God loves a cheerful giver," and I believe that can apply to the giving of our time as well as our money.
There is a beautiful song by Larnelle Harris entitled, "I Miss My Time With You." I would like you to look at the words of that song with me now. "There He was just waiting in our old familiar place. An empty spot beside Him where once I used to wait. Although He is filled with strength and wisdom for the battles of the day, I would have passed Him by again; but I clearly heard Him say, 'I miss My time with you--those moments together. I need to be with you each day, and it hurts Me when you say you're too busy, busy trying to serve Me. But how can you serve Me when your spirit's empty? There's a longing in My heart--wanting more than just a part of you. It's true, I miss My time with you..."'
If you have decided you want to spend some quiet time with God each day, let me help you get started. I have written the following daily devotionals. You can read a short passage of scripture then read my comment, then take time to pray and talk to God about your life and be sure to thank Him for all he is doing and has done for you.
DAILY DEVOTIONALS:
RELEASED FROM THE SNARE
Read: Psalms 25
Key Verse: “...For only He will release my feet from the snare. (Psalms 25:15)
Have you ever seen those old Tarzan movies where a person bends the top of a tree all of the way over until it touches the ground? Next, they would stake it down and string a rope from it out across a path. When some lost person would come wandering through the jungle, that person would step into the rope’s noose. Then the tree would spring up and lift them off the ground, holding them upside-down by their feet.
Similarly, each of us at some time in our life, has been caught in the snare of sin that the devil had set for us. In the Psalm we read today the writer realized that he had been caught in the trap. He wrote, "Forgive my iniquity, though it is great." He continued, "Look upon my affliction and distress and take away all of my sins." He looked to God because he knew that only God could release him from that snare.
If you have asked Jesus to release you from the snare, you need to encourage others to call to Him for help. But don't get frustrated and give up because they don't see things the way you do. Remember, they are looking at things differently--they're still hanging upside down.
DAVID'S COURAGEOUS WARRIORS
Read: I Chronicles 11:1-25
Key Verse: "'Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.” Luke 12:42 & 43
David had been anointed king over God's people, but many years passed before he actually took his rightful place on the throne. During those years many faithful men chose to join David and fight for him because they believed the kingdom would one day be subject to him. They faced hardships and risked even their very lives for him.
One of David's courageous warriors, Benaiah, struck down a seven-and-a-half foot tall enemy giant. Benaiah went after the giant with a club, took the giant's own spear away from him, and killed him with it. On another occasion he went down into a pit and killed a lion. Because he proved to be so valiant and loyal, David made him commander of his bodyguards.
Today, we Christians believe that Jesus is God's anointed king, but not eveyone in this land is subject to his rule. We need to be loyal to Jesus even if it means facing hardships and risking our own lives for Him. We also need to bravely fight the enemies of God. If some enemy giant like lust or selfishness comes around to overthrow Jesus' rule of your life, courageously attack him. Go after that giant and fight him with whatever weapon you can find. Take away the weapon he brought to destroy you and slay that evil brute with it.
If Satan himself comes around like a roaring lion seeking to devour you, fearlessly engage him in battle and conquer him as Benaiah did with that lion in the pit. If you remain a true and valiant warrior for the One you know is the rightful King, then when Jesus takes His throne, He will put you in a place of leadership in His kingdom.
OUR WEDDING DAY IS SET
Read: I Thessalonians 4:13-5:24
Key Verse: “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (I John 3:3)
Are you looking forward to your upcoming wedding day? Or, if you are already married, do you remember the months preceding the day you were married? It is a very exciting time planning, dreaming, and just focusing your attention on the one you love. Then, when the actual day finally arrives, you stand joyously in awe of the overwhelming event.
All Christians can anticipate a great wedding day ahead, regardless of their current marital status. Each of us has accepted Jesus' proposal and demonstration of love, and now we are engaged to Him. The date of our wedding has been set. Although only the Father knows the exact day and hour, we know it will be coming soon. We are anxiously awaiting the moment when the veil will be lifted from our eyes, and we will see Jesus face to face.
Keep yourself pure while you wait for that great wedding day. You don't want to be ashamed when He lovingly looks into your eyes and says, “My bride, come and live with me in my palace forever.” So, do not set your affections on the things of this world that will one day pass away. Focus all of your love and attention on Jesus, who you will soon go to live with in heaven.
KNOWING A POWERFUL FRIEND
Read: II Peter 3:7-14
Key Verse: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." II Peter 3:10
What a blessing I received by being a counselor at the Circle-C Ranch. Everyone there came to know the Lord better. One night after the bell rang, the lights were turned out, the pillow fights ceased, and the kids quieted down, I went outside to gaze at the night sky. Another counselor, Bob, and I stood on the front balcony of the cabin and viewed God's heaven.
We had the privilege of seeing two shooting stars that night. We marveled at the great power of God that first ignited such spectacles, at the same time knowing He will someday melt this creation of His. I thought, too, of His great love in that He wants all of us to come to repentance now, before the time runs out.
It's thrilling for me to think that I have friendly talks, by prayer, with the Creator of our vast universe. I praise God that at the ranch many teenagers came to know Him in this same, personal way. The Great Creator listened to Bob and me as we prayed for each of the boys in our cabin. And, before the week was over, they had all invited Jesus into their hearts. What a powerful, yet personal, loving God we have the privilege of knowing through Christ.
UP, UP, AND AWAY
Read: Luke 24:44-48
Key Verse: "Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it will go next, so it is with the Spirit." John 3:8
This summer my sister and I had a party for our Christian friends. After having fun playing, we shared testimonies and sang spiritual songs. But I think the highlight of the party was when we took some helium-filled balloons and taped gospel tracts to their strings. Then we let them go. Since the sky was clear that evening we could see them for a long time. They floated high into the sky as the wind carried them out into the world.
The verses we read today designate each of us as witnesses to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians should be witnesses in the same way those balloons were. We must carry the good news of Christ with us each day. And, as God guides us, we can then influence the people He has set in our paths.
We all received the ability (the helium) to witness when we invited Jesus into our hearts. But our message won't get off the ground if it is weighted down. So, we need to examine our thoughts, words, and actions to see if they are hindering us from going into the world with the full force of the gospel. We must "lay aside every weight" (Hebrews 12:1) that would hold us down. Only then can we be free to follow the Spirit wherever He desires to blow us.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Read: Matthew 26:2-28
Key Verse: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal .life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)
Last week the Red Cross came to my college, and I had the privilege of giving them some of my blood. It wasn't painful at all! It took only four-and-a-half minutes to give a pint of blood, but the bookwork took a little longer. Before they would take any blood from me I first had to be tested and approved.
After extracting some of my blood, they took that fluid to someone who needed its death-fighting power. That person recognized his condition and realized that he needed someone else's help. My blood gave him hope of an extended life. But, as with any man, he will eventually die. "All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust." (Job 34:15)
Jesus offered His blood as a "transfusion" for us so that when we die physically, we will still live spiritually. His blood was given for us on Calvary's cross. But we must recognize our lost condition and apply it to our lives by receiving Jesus as our Savior.
Jesus was first tested to make sure His blood was pure (Hebrews 4:15b). It was approved, and He offered it as a free gift for all men. We must, at some time, realize that we need a "transfusion" from Him. We need to receive His death-conquering blood. This "transfusion" will give you life that will never end.
BULL’S EYE
Read: John 5:16-30
Key Verse: “I tell you the truth. Whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
One day, when several of my friends were together, I handed each of them a dart and gave them a chance to throw it at a target. More than half of them missed that target completely! The others were skilled enough to land their darts somewhere within the two outer rings of the target. But nobody hit the bull’s eye.
I told them that, according to the rules of the game, everyone who had NOT hit the very center of the target would die. There was, however, a hope for the players. I explained that once there was a man who had stuck his dart in the exact center of the target. And the rules allowed each individual to have that man's throw count for them.
The only thing the players had to do was admit to the Man that they weren't very good at throwing darts. Wouldn't you expect everyone to take advantage of this stipulation in the rules if their lives depended upon it?
The word "sin" means "to miss the mark". We have all missed God's mark of perfection for our lives. Everyone has sinned--see Romans 3:10&23. And, although death is the wage we have earned by sinning, we can have Christ's sinless life count for us if we will just admit our failure to Him. “If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:8&9)
I FELL ON A SWORD
Read: Hebrews 4:9-16
Key Verse: "So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
When I was in college, I worked part-time at a grocery store. One night after closing time, we were cleaning. I was told to get a ladder and dust the various large signs that were around the store. They read, "Meat", "Bread", and "Frozen Food". I am glad I always carry a Bible in my back pocket because while I was up there dusting, the ladder slipped. When I landed, my pocket Bible cushioned the fall. Of course all of the employees heard the noise and came running. "Are you hurt?" they asked. "I'm all right," I said. "I landed on my Bible. That's the second time it has saved my life."
God's Word is not just something you can fall back on, but it is a standard for you to live up to, a sword with which to fight Satan, and it has a message to be held out to the people you come into contact with.
God's Word is a two-edged sword. It can be used to strike back at the devil. Jesus gives us a good example of His mastery of this usage in Matthew 4:3-10. Whenever Satan tempted Him, Jesus came back skillfully with the two-edged sword. Jesus knew the scriptures. You need to study God's Word regularly if you want to be effective with your weapon.
WAKING AND WALKING
Read: Luke 7:11-17
Key verse: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5: 24)
Some mornings it is all I can do to force myself to get out of bed. I know that if I don't get up just as soon as the alarm sounds, I will probably fall back to sleep. If I get up and accomplish some things, I am really glad I didn't stay in bed.
I was spiritually asleep for a long time, but then Christ sounded an alarm in my life. I responded. But it was unfortunate for me that I did not immediately get up and walk in His way. I fell back to sleep spiritually.
Gradually, I did let the light of the Son awaken me. I slowly got out of bed. Now that I am up and working for my Lord I am thrilled about all of the things He is helping me to accomplish. This day has not yet ended, and there is still a lot of work left to be done.
Has Christ brought you to life as He did the young man in Luke 7? Have you responded to Jesus' alarm about eternal doom, and have you opened your eyes to His light? If your eyes are open, are you up and working for Christ, or are you still in bed almost to fall back to sleep? Jesus is coming back to earth again, and He wants to find you awake. "Therefore keep watch. If He comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping." (Mark 13: 35-36)
THE COLOGNE OF CHRIST
Read: I Peter 3:15-18
Key Verse: "As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved around us." (II Corinthians 2:15
Most of us bathe and put on cologne before we go anywhere at all. This is a good habit which benefits us and those around us. Sometimes when we do this we are asked what kind of cologne we are wearing. We can answer the question and explain how they can obtain some of the same cologne for themselves.
There is a good spiritual idea here. Each of us should have our spirits cleansed by Christ and then put on the fragrance of His presence. Just by living your faith in Christ each day you can witness to those around you. Other people will notice the pleasant air about you and some may even ask you to tell them how they, too, can know the Lord.
You should always be ready to show scriptures to the people you come in contact with. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (I Peter 3:15b). God wants to use you to talk to others about Him. All you must do is live like His Spirit really is within you, and be willing at all times to be used by Him as a witness of His saving love. We are the flavor, or salt, of society. If you are the only Christian in the crowd you will be with today, thank God for the privilege He is giving you to flavor that segment of society.
EACH OF US WILL EVAPORATE
Read: Genesis 2:1-7
Key Verse: "If God were to withdraw His Spirit, all life would disappear and mankind would turn again to dust." (Job 34:14-15)
Recently, three people I have known quite well have died. When I see a person in a coffin, I struggle to grasp the deep truth that this person's soul was actually still living.
God helped me comprehend death's separation of body and soul while I was preparing a Sunday school lesson. The scripture I needed to teach was, "God formed man from the dust of the ground." To demonstrate this verse, I dug up some reddish dirt. When I mixed water with it, I had a firm ball of modeling clay. I then formed it into the shape of a little man. I explained to the children that God had not created man quite the way I had, but the illustration did help them remember the Bible verse.
God seemed to show me that this moist, clay man would again return to dust after the water evaporated out of him. That, in a way, is the case with each person. God takes dust, pours a soul into it, and brings us to life. After a time, the soul "evaporates" from the body.
The soul's eternal destination is dependent on what that person does with Jesus. If he receives Jesus as his savior, he will have eternal joy and peace in heaven. If he rejects Christ’s free offer of salvation, he will receive unending punishment in hell. The decision lies with each one of us.
IF GOD IS IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE, WHY DO THINGS GO WRONG?
Read: Hebrews 12: 1-11
Key Verse: “Endure hardship as discipline. God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” (Hebrews 12:7)
Not everything a Christian faces in life is pleasant. Trials do come our way and make it difficult to retain our joy in the Lord. In the light of this reality, how can Romans 8:28 be true which states: "For we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose."? Although not everything that happens to us seems good in itself, they all work together to accomplish something good. And that good goal is the development of our character. God is more interested in developing good character in us than He is in making us comfortable.
Sometimes the conflicts we have with people or the disappointments we face make it difficult to live an overcoming, Christian life. But each challenge is an opportunity allowed by God to help develop and mature our Christian character. We are supposed to live like Jesus, but His unselfish, sacrificial lifestyle does not come to us easily. And that is why our trials seem so difficult to us.
Part of our trouble in grasping all of this is due to our incorrect concept of God. Many of us picture God as an elderly man with a long beard who sits on a throne and listens to our prayers. And, if we have been good, he will give us what we want. Isn't this more the picture of that jolly old guy we see at shopping malls around Christmas time than the image of a heavenly father that the Bible portrays? We picture God like Santa Claus, all except for the red suit, and we expect Him to function in that role. We crawl up on His lap in prayer and tell Him what we want Him to drop down our chimney on a certain date.
We need to understand that God is our heavenly father, not our heavenly grandfather. Grandparents are notorious for lavishing gifts on their grandchildren that they don't need and that may not really be good for them. Parents, on the other hand, sense a greater responsibility for the development of their child's character and usually do not spoil their children.
If we would change our perception of the relationship we have to God and see Him in the role of a father, we could more easily accept with joy the events in life that we initially consider unfortunate.
***END***
Glenn W. Worthington is author of the ebooks, “Eagerly Desire to Prophesy,” “God-Inspired Visions and Dreams,” “Wrestling With Depression,” “Spread The Word Began in a Silo,” “Understanding God Better,” and “They Would Not Love My Lamb.” You can read the first half of each for free on Smashwords dot com. If you decide you would like to read the entire ebook, you may purchase each for just 99 cents. You may read all of “Wrestling With Depression,” “Spread The Word Began in a Silo,” “Understanding God Better,” and “They Would Not Love My Lamb” for free. This author also makes daily posts on his Facebook page “You Spread The Word.” Please visit that page each day to be strengthened in your Christian walk, encouraged, and comforted. You can share the posts and help spread God’s word across our nation and around the world.
Glenn W. Worthington is also the author of the book, “Genuine Diamonds Found in Arkansas” and host of the DVD “How To Find Genuine Diamonds in Arkansas.” He posts news of diamond finds on the Facebook page “Diamonds in Arkansas,” and has a website. He also has numerous ebooks about diamond hunting available through Smashwords dot com for just 99 cents each.
